We had our first winter weather event in almost 3 years last night! The news tells me it’s been 1077 days since the last measurable snow. As the sun came up this morning, I took some pictures before the ice and snow melted. These are some scenes from my yard.
Blogs
Buffleheads
We went out for a walk on Sunday afternoon. It was National Bird Day, but it was very cold and cloudy. There weren’t any birds to be seen. We walked down the Shiloh Greenway toward Church Street Park. There was a pair of mallard ducks swimming in the pond there. We stopped to watch them… Continue reading Buffleheads
National Bird Day
January 5, 2025 is National Bird Day. Take some time today to notice the birds outside. What are they doing? Are they looking for food? Are they singing? How many different kinds of birds do you see or hear? How many can you identify?
A Look Back at 2024
I thought it would be fun to share some statistics from my nature walks this year: I hope you enjoyed coming along on this journey with me! I’m looking forward to many new adventures in 2025. Happy New Year!
What Flowers Will Bloom in January?
We’re entering our final month where there is only a small amount of plant growth. What flowers will bloom in January? Officially, bluets, dandelions, henbit, dead nettle, and common chickweed start to bloom in January. Aside from bluets and dead nettle, all of these flowers can be seen on the trails right now. If you… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom in January?
Merry Christmas!
Enjoy this image of American Holly (Ilex opaca) for Christmas day. Merry Christmas!
Mother Nature is Decorating for the Holidays
When I was looking at this sweetgum tree in November, it reminded me of a Christmas tree. The spherical fruits are dangling off the branches, hung like ornaments. The pine needles that fell from a nearby tree are scattered like tinsel. What do you think? Was Mother Nature decorating for the holidays?
Honey Bees on Camellia Flowers in December
These sunny, seventy degree December days are bringing out the honey bees! My fall-blooming camellia is one of the few flowering plants in the area during this time of year. It was nice to see the bees enjoying it.
What’s That? December 15, 2024
What’s that? Are they tomatoes? These tiny green fruits are growing on a stem with prickles. They are the fruits of Carolina horse-nettle (Solanum carolinense). You may remember seeing the star-shaped flower this summer. This plant is part of the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes and eggplants. But horse-nettle is very toxic! Don’t eat it!
Field Report- December 11, 2024
December might feel a little gloomy as the temperature continues to drop, the leaves have mostly fallen off the trees, and everything seems to turn brown. Bundle up and take a walk! You might be surprised by what you see. I saw a few spring blooming flowers just this week! Bird’s eye speedwell, mock strawberry,… Continue reading Field Report- December 11, 2024